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Gardeners' Notes:

Grows wild & spreads via berries eaten by birds. I find this plant everywhere in my yard to the point of it practically being a pest. Fortunately these are very easy to transplant, so if a volunteer is in a spot I don't like, I just dig it up & move it. Impressive bushes of pretty leaves which later (late spring, early summer) produce tiny pink flowers which attract bees & other insects. These later turn into the stunning fuscia berries giving the plant it's name. The leaves drop off in the winter but the berries will remain for quite some time. The berries are a favorite food of the Mockingbird. The bushes can be pruned in early spring to control their growth & produce lusher plants.

This plant grows wild in Western Kentucky. I have some on my property and have taken woody stem cuttings (when the foliage is full) in late May. I put them in a glass of water and wait for the roots to appear - about 2-3 weeks. Then plant them.